Former DuPage County Board Chairman Bob Schillerstrom said Wednesday that he has formed an exploratory committee as he weighs a bid for the Republican state treasurer nomination. Schillerstrom, 61, said his years of budgeting experience suit him well for the office, arguing that Illinois cannot begin to prosper again if its money woes persist. "The fiscal philosophies that we are following clearly haven't worked," said Schillerstrom, a Naperville attorney. "We need some new ideas,...

A veteran state lawmaker claimed the Republican nomination for Illinois treasurer Tuesday night. Rep. Tom Cross, of Oswego, won nearly 57 percent of the vote, vs. just more than 43 percent from opponent Bob Grogan, a two-term DuPage County auditor from Downers Grove, with 95 percent of the vote counted. Cross, who declared victory at a downtown Chicago hotel among supporters and family, said Tuesday night by phone he believes his message about using the office to...

This year's election for state treasurer shouldn't be happening. The Democratic and Republican candidates who ran for treasurer and comptroller in 2010 vowed to support a merger of the two offices, which would save at least $12 million a year. With modern accounting systems and an auditor general as watchdog, taxpayers don't need to pay for the separate financial offices. But, as in so many other instances in Springfield, inertia has prevailed. A merger has gone nowhere. No one in position to make a...

By Jared Taylor MCALLEN, Texas, April 30 (Reuters) - Investigators have moved to seize millions in assets from a former Mexican state treasurer and fugitive under investigation for money laundering and engaging in organized criminal activity in the United States, authorities said on Monday. Hector Javier Villarreal, the former state treasurer in Mexico's Coahuila state, is under investigation by the Texas Attorney General's Office, Internal...

The Tribune offers its last endorsements today in contested primary races for the Illinois House. The election is March 18. 79th District: No endorsement in the race between freshman Democratic Rep. Katherine "Kate" Cloonen, of Kankakee, and John Howard, of Hopkins Park. 94th District : State Rep. Jil Tracy's run for lieutenant governor opens this western Illinois seat. Two Republicans hope to replace her. Randy Frese of Paloma, the Adams County Circuit Court clerk, is the favored candidate of Tracy...

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas (Reuters) - Arkansas' state treasurer resigned on Tuesday, a day after federal authorities charged her with extortion stemming from accusations that she gave a broker state bond business in exchange for repeated cash payments. Treasurer Martha Shoffner, a Democrat, faced numerous calls for her resignation following her arrest by federal agents over the weekend and a formal extortion charge on Monday, both from Democrats, including Governor Mike...

While much of the focus this campaign season has been on the Republican race for governor, the party's voters also will have to select someone to run for state treasurer. The contest on the March 18 primary ballot features a former Illinois House GOP leader facing off against a two-term DuPage County auditor. Rep. Tom Cross, 55, a state lawmaker for more than two decades, said his experience in Springfield qualifies him to hold the office that invests state funds. "I...

A veteran state lawmaker claimed the Republican nomination for Illinois treasurer Tuesday night. Rep. Tom Cross, of Oswego, won nearly 57 percent of the vote, vs. just more than 43 percent from opponent Bob Grogan, a two-term DuPage County auditor from Downers Grove, with 95 percent of the vote counted. Cross, who declared victory at a downtown Chicago hotel among supporters and family, said Tuesday night by phone he believes his message about using the office to...

With Treasurer Dan Rutherford mired in the fallout from a former top employee's sexual harassment lawsuit, state Sens. Kirk Dillard and Bill Brady each see a chance to become the chief alternative to front-runner Bruce Rauner in the race for the Republican nomination for governor. Brady, who narrowly lost to Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn four years ago, said he believed Rutherford backers, as well as voters supporting his rivals, "would eventually come to us as they got closer to...

By Monique Garcia and Jodi Cohen and Tribune reporters | June 29, 2011

Illinois Treasurer Dan Rutherford said today that he is reviewing possible disciplinary action against an employee who sent an email to fellow workers giving early notice about a contribution-matching program for the Bright Start college savings program. Rutherford said it was “inappropriate” and “wrong” for the employee to tell colleagues about the promotion before there was time for the general public to receive notice about the program, which quickly ran...

Republican governor rivals Dan Rutherford and Bruce Rauner directly confronted each other for the first time Monday amid controversy over misconduct allegations by a state treasurer's office employee that have quickly become the focus of the campaign. Rutherford, the state treasurer, stepped up his contention that Rauner is behind the complaints while denying the allegations had merit. Rauner, meanwhile, called “ridiculous” the assertion that he orchestrated the...

Illinois Treasurer Dan Rutherford said Monday a decision on whether to run for the 2014 Republican nomination for governor is more a matter of when than if. Illinois Treasurer Dan Rutherford said Monday that a decision on whether to run for the 2014 Republican nomination for governor is more a matter of when than if. Speaking to reporters after appearing at the City Club of Chicago, the first-term treasurer said no formal campaign announcement would...

State Treasurer Dan Rutherford on Friday said he's the target of politically motivated misconduct allegations leveled against him by an employee, but the worker's attorney called the matter “serious and real.” Neither Rutherford nor the attorney would describe the nature of the allegations or who made them. Rutherford, who is running for the Republican governor nomination, vehemently denied any misconduct and contended opponent Bruce Rauner was behind the claim...

Illinois taxpayers will get a little something extra with their tax refunds in 2014: a one-page sheet from Republican Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka that offers a broad overview of how state government spends money. The flier will be sent to those who receive their refunds via a check in the mail. It features a chart showing how the state's $35.2 billion budget is divided among various programs including education, health care and retirement funds for state...

Oct 15 (Reuters) - Michigan Governor Rick Snyder reached inside his administration for a new state treasurer, announcing on Tuesday the appointment of Kevin Clinton, who has headed the state's insurance and financial services department since it was created last year. Clinton, who has a background as an actuary, told reporters that he plans on developing mathematical models to predict future financial needs of municipalities and school...